“Ohio Northern University awards bachelor’s degree to canine”

A well-trained golden retriever will receive a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Northern University today along with the rest of the graduating class. Zeeke, a 1-year-old dog, will earn his bachelor’s of science degree in canine companionship. The canine has spent thousands of hours training as a Canine Companion dog as part of a senior’s honors project.

ONU President Kendall Baker said he believes this is the first time the university has ever awarded a diploma to an animal.

Zeeke has learned to pull a wheelchair, open doors and retrieve fallen objects.

Canine Companions for Independence places service dogs with people in need for free.

And the first commenter says:

I don’t think anyone should be able to get a Bachelor’s degree in one year, even if it works out to seven “dog years.” Was the dog unwilling to accept an AA degree instead?

Hey, at least the dog completed some coursework, and is likely to make positive contributions to society. Unlike Phyllis Schlafly, as Brian Leiter explains here in some detail. Shorter Leiter: There is a difference between giving a wrongheaded bigot the opportunity to speak, and awarding her an honorary degree; it’s okay to do the first, but not the second.

I celebrate that a dog was awarded a degree, for many deplorable humans earn ‘honorary degrees’, often ‘honorary doctorates’ and Zeeke appears to devoted much of their first year of life to academic and helping pursuits. I take offense that President Baker does not realize that humans, like dogs, are animals. For more on my reaction to this post, feel free to read an antipoem that I wrote:http://chicagojo.tumblr.com/post/36124937/cruelty-free-chicago-or-these-stones-will-shout-or-see